No sign of AF but BFNs - what's more likely to be the reason?

[Lucyjojo]

Hi ladies, my cycles are usually regular 25/26 days, but this month of ttc for 6 months my AF hasn't turned up. I was due on Monday but there is still no sign of it arriving. I have done several different tests every other day since Sunday but they are all a firm negative. I am just so fed up of wondering what is going on, I am feeling a bit desperate as to where I really stand. I have never, ever, missed a period before in my life so I cannot understand what is going on. What are the chances do you think that I am actually pregnant and it's just not being picked up on on tests? Or is it the stress of ttc that is delaying my AF, or something else? Many thanks for any advice or opinions!

Hi Lucy! Remember me from the ttc#2 thread?

Sorry to hear you've still not had your bfp either. As for your period being late, I think the stress of ttc could well be the cause, it does seem to have a tendency of messing with your body! I know some people get really late bfps, so there might still be a chance for you, but I personally wouldn't get my hopes up too much.

FWIW, I know how frustrating it is not knowing what's going on - I haven't had a period since October!!!

Hi metal! I do remember you! Thanks for replying to me. How are you doing? have you been to the doctor about your missing AF? Were you pretty regular before it did a disappearing act? I haven't got my hopes up, I did for a day or two but the longer it goes on the less likely I think it is I am actually pregnant. Not sure how much you can believe the stories of getting a bfp weeks and weeks after bfns!! I sort of hope I'm not anyway as it will be a well and truly pickled bean by now with all the festive drinking!
My two previous cycles were one and two days early so maybe it is the stress of ttc that has affected my cycles. I think I am really going to try and relax about it next year, I'll try to focus on just getting a bfp in 2014 as wonderful, rather than worrying about the increasing age gap with DD.
What do you think is causing it with you? Have you still been poas every now and then?

I have been to the doc and had a hormone test, but need to repeat it once I've had AF. If it still hasn't shown up in the new year I will go back and see if they can prescribe me anything to get it started again!

I have had fairly irregular cycles over the last year, but the longest one had been 43 days and I'm now on CD70+. I can only assume that it was the stress of ttc that messed things up for me, as I did get quite obsessed with it all despite my best efforts. I have been poas every now and then on the off chance, but not really expecting anything at this point.

If and when I get back into a normal rhythm I'll do the same as you, i.e. aim for a bfp at some point in 2014 and in the meantime try and focus on something else, such as trying to figure out what I really want to do job wise for the rest of my life. Let's hope next year will be more lucky for both of us! x

This happened to me about 4 months into ttc. Never happened before or since... I got pregnant 3 months later. I was 9 says late which is unheard of. I even went to doc and he just more or less said it was one of those things.

I didn't get my BFP till I was 6days late and then it was really faint.
I guess just wait and see is all you can do.

Thanks for all your replies ladies, just to let you know my AF turned up today. I was so happy to see her!! Puts me at 8 days late today, I'm pretty sure I ov'd at the usual time so guess it was late because I have been stressing myself out about it all so much. Moving onwards and upwards for next year, Happy New Years to you all!

Just to chime in - stress will only delay ovulation. It will not delay a period once you have ovulated.

Your luteal phase (the time between ovulation and menstruation) is generally pretty fixed (it can occasionally fluctuate, for example after stopping BF, but in general, it's fixed). The ovulatory phase (the time between menstruation and ovulation) is the time affected by stress/exercise/travel etc. If your cycle is longer than normal, you ovulated late: you didn't extend your luteal phase.